New Bombay Sapphire Distillery at Laverstoke Mill

Bombay Saphhire®, the world’s number one premium gin by value1 and the fastest-growing premium gin, is proud to announce that the doors to its gin distillery and brand home, Laverstoke Mill in Hampshire, England, will open to the public on 1 October 2014.

The mill, which dates back to the 10th century, and the site on the River Test have undergone a multi-million pound restoration, and now provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about the mill’s history and the unique Vapour Infusion distillation process of Bombay Sapphire gin.

Last year, the distillery was recognised as the first distillery and first refurbishment to achieve an ‘Outstanding’ design-stage BREEAM (Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method) accreditation2 for its distillery process buildings.

The vision for the site was headed by acclaimed London designer Thomas Heatherwick and his team, whose ambition for the project focused on restoration of the buildings and grounds, whilst introducing a new structure that complements the natural beauty of the site. The centerpiece is two intertwining Botanical Glasshouses designed to showcase examples of the 10 hand-selected botanicals from around the world, used in every bottle of Bombay Sapphire gin.

Guests will be encouraged to use interactive maps and will end the experience with a classic Bombay Sapphire cocktail in the beautifully designed Mill Bar. The Bombay Sapphire Distillery, Laverstoke Mill also features the Empire Room, a new advocacy and training centre.

Valerie Brass, Global Marketing Director of Bombay Sapphire gin, says; “This is a truly exciting time for Bombay Sapphire as we open our doors to the public worldwide and share our story with them for the first time. Everything we do from our iconic blue bottle, to the 10 exotic Bombay Sapphire botanicals and our unique Vapour Infusion process, demonstrate our commitment to quality and innovation in gin distillation.”

1Data sourced by IWSR (International Wine and Spirit Research*), for the 12 months to the end of December 2012.
2Rating granted in accordance with 2008 BREEAM criteria.